Italian peacekeepers have restored a statue of Christ in Lebanon damaged by the Israeli military

A statue of the crucified Jesus Christ, previously damaged by Israeli soldiers, has been fully restored in the Christian village of Debl in southern Lebanon. The full restoration of the shrine was carried out by Italian peacekeepers from the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) after an initial attempt by the Israeli side to replace the object was deemed unsuccessful.

According to the UOC Information and Education Department, the incident involving damage to the crucifix occurred while the Israeli military was in the locality. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the authenticity of the video footage, which depicts a soldier striking the figure of the Savior. Although the Israeli side promptly installed a new structure to replace the damaged one, locals noted that it differed significantly from the original in appearance and size.

Italian peacekeepers stepped in to ensure historical justice. They made a new statue, which repeats the appearance of the former shrine, and returned it to its rightful place. Consecration of the restored crucifixion was made by the Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon Archbishop Paolo Borgia.

Recall, earlier it became known that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) applied disciplinary penalties to the soldiers involved in the desecration of the Christian shrine in southern Lebanon. The incident, which provoked a diplomatic scandal and widespread public outcry, led to the arrest of the direct perpetrator and the suspension of a group of soldiers from combat missions.